1) Arrive on time prepared to learn 

• Be on time to school and class

• Have all necessary materials

• Turn in all work on time

• Make-up work when absent

• Use time wisely

2)  Show respect to yourself and others

• Follow school dress code

• Keep hands and feet to yourself

• No bullying

• No harassment

• Use appropriate language

• Show affection in appropriate ways

3)  Show respect to all adults

• Listen and follow instructions

• Do not talk back to teachers or staff

• Demonstrate maturity

4) Take pride in your school

• Keep the school clean

• No vandalism

• Respect all property

• Follow all rules in the school handbook

5)  Always give best effort

• Always do quality work

• Participate in all classroom activities

• Strive to improve

Attendance Policy

A written excuse, signed by a parent, explaining the reason for the absence is required for each day of absence.   These written excuses are required for attendance reporting.  Students turn in their excuses in the morning, before school, to the office staff.  After a student misses 10 days, a doctor’s note is required to excuse each absence.

Just a reminder that students will be assigned a “Lunch Detention” if they do not bring an excuse note from a parent back to school the day they return from being absent.  Your child will continue to serve lunch detention each day for 3 days until he/she brings in the excuse note. If they don’t bring in an excuse note on the 3^rd day, they will be assigned Saturday School. This helps to teach them responsibility at the middle school level and also helps your child from accumulating unexcused absences which could later result in truancy issues. Also, please remember that a doctor’s note is required after a student misses more than 10 days of school. We will continue to use the Connect Ed phone system to notify parents when a child is absent, tardy, or serving a lunch detention.  Please remember to let the office know if your phone number changes at any time during the year so we can keep our records up to date.

FMS will use the automated phone system to call and/or email parents to report their child’s absence.   Five (5) unexcused absences will result in a truancy or dependent neglect petition being filed in juvenile court.   

Make every effort to schedule appointments after school. When a student must be excused early, a written note from the parent is required.   Students must turn in requests for early dismissal in the morning, before school, at the attendance desk. The office staff will notify teachers and permit students to come to the office to meet their parent for the appointment.  Students may not sign themselves out if they are leaving early. You child must be in school a total of 3 hours and 16 minutes in order to not be fulled counted absent for the day. 

Students have the opportunity to make up work missed because of excused absences. 

Excused absences for family trips (a maximum of five days for the year) require prior written approval of the principal. Attendance at school is required by law.  We follow local, state and national guidelines concerning absences.

·      Students should not be on school premises before 6:55 AM.

·      Students are to report directly to the cafeteria if they arrive before 7:07 AM.  To ensure that students have plenty of time to get to their homeroom in the morning, they should arrive no later than 7:07 AM.

·       Students arriving after 7:07 AM should report directly to their classrooms. 

·      Breakfast is served every day from 6:55 until 7:18 AM. 

·      A warning bell will sound at 7:18 AM.  All students must be in class by 7:20 AM. Tardy students must sign in at the office and receive a late pass.

·      Students can be tardy twice each nine weeks without punishment.  Students will receive an after school detention for a third and fourth unexcused tardy and Saturday school for 5 or more tardies during each nine weeks.

·      Once a student has received 8 unexcused tardies for the year they will receive Saturday school or other more severe punishments as decided by the administration. 

·      The following excuses are not accepted for tardies: Overslept, Running Late, Parents Fault, Car Trouble, Missed Bus, Riding with Sibling, No Reason Given, and No Excuse Note brought in for tardy. Other tardy reasons to be determined if excused or not by the  Principal or Assistant Principal.

Homework

FMS believes that homework provides an important opportunity for an extension of each day’s learning and provides additional practice for emerging skills.  The National Middle School Association recommends on the average 60 minutes for 6^th, 70 minutes for 7^th, and 80 minutes for 8^th per night.

There will be an after school homework program for students whose grades are suffering because they are not completing assignments.  Students referred to this program by their teachers will stay after school until the student is caught up.   

Daily Agendas

·         Every student will be charged an agenda (formerly known as a  planner) fee of $5.00. Please make your check payable to FMS.   

·         Agendas are an excellent tool for a two way communication between the parent and teachers. Each day, parents should check their child’s agenda to check for recorded homework assignments and messages.

·         If a student loses their agenda, the cost is $5.00 for a replacement.

Behavior

Self-discipline is the key to a successful middle school experience.  Self-discipline means fulfilling your responsibilities and respecting the school, school personnel, and each other.

A copy of the entire FMS School Behavior Plan will be sent home with each student to be signed and returned.

FMS has a positive behavior intervention plan called PBS. Videos will be shown each morning that teach  the expectations for middle school students. Students will be given tickets for exhibiting desired behaviors.  All students who have the required number of PBS tickets will attend a reward assembly each month. Any student who has multiple detentions, Saturday school,  suspensions, or failing classes, will not attend. Tickets will be drawn for a variety of donated prizes.  The goal of this plan is to reward students for good behavior, and also discourage misbehavior.

There are consequences for poor decision-making.  Possible disciplinary consequences include detention, isolated lunch, office isolation, Saturday School, suspension, and court petitions.  "Zero Tolerance" infractions involving assault, drugs, or weapons will result in a referral to the Alternative Learning Center and/or a petition to appear in Juvenile Court. 

School Discipline Policy

Alcohol, drugs and controlled substances are prohibited at school, on school grounds, and at any school sponsored activity.  Any alcohol found in school will lead to an automatic minimum 30 day suspension. Possession/use of illegal drugs is a zero tolerance offense (automatic one year suspension served at the Alternative Learning Center).

Physical Assault/Violence: Physical assault or threatened assault or any other behavior which endangers the welfare and safety of others will lead to a suspension and a possible petition being filed at the juvenile court.  All harassment is unacceptable. 

Tobacco and Smoking: Possession or use of any tobacco product or tobacco paraphernalia (lighters, matches) is prohibited on school property at all times.  Tennessee law prohibits tobacco use for children under 18 years of age.  Violators of this law will have a citation issued to appear at the juvenile court.

Weapons:  Students may not possess, handle, transmit, use or attempt to use any dangerous weapon (or any instrument that may be used as a lethal weapon) on school property.  Explosive materials, such as firecrackers, are prohibited.  Toys that resemble weapons are also prohibited.  Possession of a weapon could be a zero tolerance offense.

Electronic devices: CD players, i-pods, MP3 players, radios, computer games, playing cards, toys, and other personal items should not be used during the school day.

Cell phones:  Cell phones may not be used during the school day and must be kept turned off and put away for use after school. Your cell phone will be confiscated and a parent will have to pick it up.

Drinks:  No food or drink in classrooms unless provided by the teacher.

Dress Code

FMS expects students to be well groomed and neat and believes that clothing guidelines should allow the students the opportunity to learn to make some choices while at the same time should help to reduce excessive attention to attire. With these goals in mind, the school guidelines are the following: 

 (1) sleeves must be at least credit card width and fitted under the arms; no “crop” tops or exposed midriffs, “spaghetti straps” or fish net/see through material;  (2) no visible cleavage  (3) skirts, shorts or pants are to be held at the waist and no shorter than two inches above knee length, including slits; (4) underwear must not be visible; (5) no visible body piercing other than ears; (6) no dog collars or spiked ornamentation, (7) any apparel or dress that advertises or promotes products or activities prohibited by law or by the Board of Education is prohibited.  This includes drugs and alcohol, tobacco, profanity, suggestive language or illustrations, violence, etc.  (8) Hair color must resemble a hair color normally and naturally found on humans; (9) No hats. 

Any apparel, dress or grooming that is potentially disruptive to the classroom atmosphere will not be permitted. Administrators and teachers shall enforce the dress code policy.  

Gum:
No gum allowed!

Profanity: 

Use of profanity is a form of verbal violence.  All profanity is prohibited, including drawings, graffiti, etc.

Bullying

All bullying is taken very seriously at FMS.  A very successful “No Bullying” plan was implemented last year.  The only bullying that cannot be stopped is that bullying that is not reported.  We even have an anonymous bullying box.

Cheating: 

Honor and integrity are stressed throughout Fairview Middle School.  Student cheating will result in a teacher conference and further consequences.

Vandalism:

All forms of vandalism are prohibited, including writing on desks, walls, and other surfaces within school property.  Portable classrooms, athletic fields, buses, and outdoor areas are included in the ban on vandalism.  Defacing property in any way is against the law and will require restitution and/or other disciplinary action!

Grading Policy

Students receive report cards every nine weeks, four times a year.  Progress reports will be sent home every week starting with the 2^nd week of each nine weeks.  Progress reports on the third and sixth week of each nine weeks will be on colored paper.  They are to be signed by the parent and returned to the teacher. 

Fairview Middle School will have an Academic Recognition Assembly each nine weeks to recognize outstanding academic achievement.

A          =          91 – 100

B          =          81 – 90

C          =          73 – 80

D          =          70 - 72

F          =          Below 70

Parents are encouraged to contact their child’s teachers any time additional information is desired or concerns arise.  Teachers may be contacted directly via notes, email, or by phone (see phone directory).  Although there will be planned parent/teacher conferences each fall, parents may request a conference at any time throughout the year.

Extra-curricular Activities

Students are encouraged to participate in one or more of a number of extra-curricular clubs, organizations, and activities offered at FMS.  Students involved in extra-curricular activities tend to do better academically.  Currently FMS offers the following clubs and organizations:  Art Club, Technology Student Organization, Choir, Drama Club, Student Council, STARS (Student Taking a Right Stand), Newspaper Club, Beta Club, Forensics, and Yearbook Club. 

All clubs have a teacher employed at school as the advisor.  Clubs that do not qualify as school-sponsored clubs are considered to be non-school clubs and beyond the jurisdiction of the school.  See the Activities/Clubs Page for more information

Crisis Management

Fairview Middle School has a detailed Crisis Management Plan it follows in case of an emergency.  Throughout the year, students will practice fire and tornado drills. Students are expected to treat all drills seriously.  There are also procedures in place to handle intruders, medical emergencies, and bio-terrorism/chemical threats.

Electronic Media Access

A written, parental request shall be required prior to students being granted independent access to the school’s technological resources.  The required permission form, which will specify acceptable uses, rules of on-line behavior, access privileges and penalties of misuse, must be signed by the legal guardian of all middle school students.  Misuse of technology could result in loss of privileges and possible suspension. 

School Interventions

Is it hard for you to:  see the board, read papers or books, hear, read, do math, keep your grades up.  You can get help!  FMS offers many ways to help students who find it hard to see, hear, or learn.  See your guidance counselors or talk to one of your teachers to see if we can help you.

Promotion/Retention

Middle school students must pass with an average of 70% language arts, reading, math, science, and social studies.  If a student fails to achieve the 70% required for promotion in the four quarters of the regular school year in one or two of the five academic subjects, that student will have the option of carrying his/her average for that subject(s) into a tuition-based fifth quarter conducted in June.  Students failing more than two classes will not be eligible for summer school.  Students completing this fifth quarter with less than 70% in any subject will not be promoted to the next grade. Parents of students for whom promotion is a potential concern will be notified in writing at the beginning of the fourth nine weeks.

Cafeteria Service

We serve breakfast and lunch each day at Fairview Middle School.  Applications for free or reduced lunch are available in the school office.  The cafeteria staff will prepare a sack lunch for students with free or reduced lunch whenever there are school field trips scheduled during the school day.

We do not permit students to charge breakfast or lunch. Students may have a sandwich and milk if they forget their money.  Parents are welcome to sign in as a visitor and eat lunch with their child.  For more information, including applications for free and reduced lunches see the District Nutrition and Food Service web page

Grade Level Schedules

FMS operates a 7-period school day. A schedules that shows exact period times, including the grade level lunch time, will be sent home with your child during the 1^st week of school.

The Related Arts block includes a nine week rotation in the following classes: technology, P.E., music, art, computer, and health. Students have the option of taking band which is an all year class. In addition to their related arts period, students will have a focus class.  Students will rotate through focus classes that target their specific academic needs, based on IAI data and teacher input.  These focus classes will remediate or enrich the curriculum to help ensure all students achieve at least one year’s growth each year. Possible focus class subjects will be reading, math, writing, and problem solving simulations.

Transportation

The safety of every student during arrival and dismissal is very important. Students who usually ride the bus must have written permission from their parent to walk home or to ride home with another person.  An authorized bus note from the office is needed before a student can ride a bus home that is not their assigned bus.  Middle school students often try to make requests for "last minute" transportation.  We cannot accommodate student phone calls at dismissal time to arrange social events between students.  Parents must provide permission for students to walk home or ride with someone else.  Be sure to make arrangements for transportation before leaving home to go to school in the morning. DISMISSAL TIME IS 2:25 PM. Parent drivers should wait in the parking area for students to be dismissed.  Early dismissal requests are limited to family emergency or urgent situations. The circular driveway in front of the building is reserved for buses in the morning and at dismissal.

The location to pick up students is at the walkway in the parking lot.  In order to keep traffic moving safely and efficiently, please keep cars in a single-file line, move forward to the Car Rider Waiting Area sign, and follow any requests made by the teachers on duty. 

All students must exhibit appropriate behavior on the bus.  Riding a school bus is a privilege offered by Williamson County Schools to students who are able to follow bus rules and regulations.   Bus drivers have behavior forms to remind parents and students of the bus rules.  The principal or assistant principal will complete behavior forms and assign appropriate disciplinary consequences for any child referred to the office by a bus driver.  For more information see the District Transportation Site.

Inclement Weather

Watch local news or channel 3 to find out if Williamson County Schools are closed or delayed one or two hours.  You will also receive an automated phone call from Central Office. Please make sure your child’s enrollment form is kept current with all phone numbers to reach you: work, home, & cell. Please list any information concerning the transportation arrangements for your child on the enrollment form.

Guidance

Fairview Middle’s guidance counselors work with students to address their career, personal-social, and educational needs and concerns.  Counselors are available to serve students, teachers, and parents.  If a student would like to consult with a counselor, he or she should get a pass from his or her teacher. 
See Guidance Webpage for more information

Clinic/Medication

The FMS Clinic is located in the 6^th grade hallway.    A registered nurse is here full-time.  If a student gets injured during the school day, an accident report form will be filled out and sent home with the student.  You must sign your child out sick through the office sign-out sheet.

A written request must be made by parents for any medicines to be administered to their child during the school day.  All such medicine (prescription, non-prescription, and emergency drugs) will be stored and dispensed in the office.  The nurse or a school employee will oversee and record the self-administration of these drugs.  Students may not have medication with them at any time.  Medicine must be delivered and picked up by a parent.   See the Clinic Web Page for more information.

Athletics

FMS sponsors a number of interscholastic sports for both boys and girls.  These sports include football, volleyball, golf, girls and boys basketball, girls and boys soccer, wrestling, baseball, softball, cheer-leading, cross-country, tennis and track.  Some of these sports are offered on a "no cut" basis, but tryouts are held for others.  To be eligible to participate on an athletic team, students must pass (70 or above) four academic subjects: language arts, math, science, and social studies in the previous nine weeks grading period.  See FMS Sports Page for more information.

Once a student makes a school team, there are no guarantees made regarding individual playing time for each student.  Academic eligibility must be maintained.  Students whose grades in any of the four academic subject areas listed above fall below 70 for the nine week grading period will be placed on probation.  Students on probation may practice but not dress out or play.  As soon as the grade has improved to a 70 or above, the student will be allowed to participate.  Any student whose grade does not improve to an average of 70 or above in each of the four academic subjects by the mid-term report will be suspended until the next nine week grading period.

Visitors to School

Parents are welcome at Fairview Middle School.  Visitors to school are required to use the main entrance of the school, go directly to the office and check in as either a visitor or as a volunteer.  This procedure applies to all visitors, including parents and volunteers.  Students are not permitted to bring friends or student relatives to visit classrooms during the school day.  With prior notification to the teacher, parents are always welcome to visit their child’s classes.  Parents are also welcome to come and eat lunch with their child.

The information presented here is a summary of information about Fairview Middle School.  Space will not allow all details to be included.  It also may be necessary to make changes.